Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: A Casual Jumpsuit

Image
By


Have you seen all of the new jumpsuit patterns that are coming out lately?  There are so many!  I've been anxious to try a jumpsuit, but hadn't worked up the courage until I saw Sandra Betzina's version with Vogue 1483.
I always enjoy Sandra's patterns, so I decided to give this one a try.  You can see from the line drawing that it has pockets (YAY!), a zip front and raglan sleeves.


It reminded me of this one that I had seen by Stella McCartney, which I liked, but would cost $1700 at Barneys!



I really struggled with what to make it out of.  I wanted something drapey, but not too thin. The pattern suggests ponte knit, challis, or crepe, so I went to Fabric Mart's ponte selection.  I was afraid that a solid would look too industrial, so I decided on this print.

Here's a close-up of the details and the print.  I have to admit that this was out of my comfort zone in the print- but sometimes it's good to try new things.  I knew that it was a good fabric composition- ponte knits that have rayon as the largest component are very soft and have a great hand to them.  They are very easy to sew with, and the fact that it could stretch was important just in case I made the rise too short!



So, now that the decision was made on the fabric and the pattern, then came the decisions about adjustments.  Being tall, I could never, EVER wear a ready to wear jumpsuit- they are way too short. I added 3" total- 1-1/2" at the bottom of the bodice, and 1-1/2" at the hem, and I think it turned out to be pretty good for my 5'9" frame.  If I were to make this from a woven fabric, I would add another 1-1/2" at the top of the pant portion.


There are a few considerations to take into account when wearing a jumpsuit, and the first that most people think of is -how do I get out of this thing?  Well- this one is easy.  The zipper front is just like putting on a pair of onesie pajamas.


In fact, that is probably my main issue with it- how to not have it look like pajamas!  I've noticed since making this that most of the jumpsuit patterns are sleeveless, which would cut down on that pajama look.  I thought about chopping off the sleeves, but it's still pretty chilly here, and I need sleeves!


So, I decided to wear a vest, belt and necklace with it instead.  My daughter said that it looked like I was going hunting in my pajamas.  Haha.   I do see her point- while the print is not a camo, it does have that vibe!  But, I've worn this a couple of times already and I have gotten quite a few compliments.  In fact, my husband really likes it!  He rarely comments on anything, but he thinks this one is fun. But more importantly, I really like wearing it!

How about you?  Any jumpsuits that you would like to make?  Have you stepped out of your comfort zone to try something different?

Happy Sewing!

Ann for SewBaby News


Comments

  1. Sue ParrottMarch 28, 2016 at 8:12 AM

    Ann, I love this! I think your fabric is the perfect choice and no, I don't see hunting or camo at all! I just picked up a jumpsuit pattern the other day and may give it a whirl--they are so cute and everywhere! Making one up will definitely be out of my comfort zone!

    ReplyDelete
  2. sewmaddMarch 28, 2016 at 2:53 PM

    I love this! I have been wanting a jumpsuit and hesitated buying a pattern I haven't seen made up and a fabric suggestion. On my way out the door to get this and.....Yay!!! I already have a fabric. Thank you for this inspiring post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. VickiMarch 28, 2016 at 4:37 PM

    Fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JanetMarch 28, 2016 at 5:19 PM

    Good for you! Super fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AudreyMarch 29, 2016 at 9:47 AM

    I like this jumpsuit, the comfortable style and the interesting but subtle print. It looks great worn with the vest. I have been collecting jumpsuit patterns with the intention of sewing one soon. I was a neophyte sewer when I sewed my last jumpsuit, and unaware that I needed to lengthen the torso because of my height. Tops and slacks fit fine when made straight from the pattern, why wouldn't a jumpsuit. Needless to say it was not a success. I have learned a lot since then.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ann BrodskyMarch 29, 2016 at 4:05 PM

      Thanks, Audrey. The nice thing about having the seam at the waist is that you can take it up if you end up adding too much. I look forward to seeing what you make!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Vacation Vibes

By
We will be traveling to the Caribbean for Spring Break this year, so I started thinking about what I wanted to take with me that would be easy to wear, but also light and breezy.  Personally, I love wearing linen because it looks so luxe while still being really comfortable. Since coordinated sets are still on trend this year, I thought it would be fun to create some pieces that I could mix and match for a relaxed vacation mini-wardrobe.  (I just need to remember to pack my travel iron!)   I went through all of my patterns and came up with five different patterns that I knew would would coordinate well with each other, and that would work well with linen.  I wasn’t surprised when all the patterns I chose came from Pattern Emporium.  Their whole aesthetic is clothing that is on trend, easy to wear and comfortable.  For my first set, I used the Lightweight Yarn-Dyed Chambray Linen in Soft Oat.  This fabric is so incredibly soft and airy. ...
5 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: I Love A Bomber Jacket

By
Hello friends,  I’m Byrd, and today I’m excited to share my latest Fabricista project with you.  There’s something timeless about a bomber jacket that makes it a staple in my wardrobe. It’s effortlessly cool, versatile, and perfect for layering through the seasons. But what makes this particular bomber jacket even more special is its thoughtfully designed pattern. Not only is it a standard pattern, but it’s also adaptive—meaning the length and closures can be customized to suit your needs, whether you’re standing, sitting, or using a wheelchair. This level of inclusivity in design is something I truly appreciate, and that’s why I’m especially excited about this make! The Fabric: Cotton Poly Poplin For the bomber jacket, I chose a Salamander White cotton-poly poplin , and it couldn’t be a more perfect match. Poplin is a fantastic choice for outerwear because it’s lightweight yet durable, with just the right amount of structure to hold the classic bomber shape. The cotton-poly b...
7 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: Pleated High Waisted Pants And How To Style Them

By
Hi sewing friends! Today I’m excited to share some awesome trousers that I discovered last year when I was a tester on this pattern. These pants are seriously amazing and magical because they are pretty beginner friendly but you get a real ready to wear and higher end look due to a few clever features. I also think they are flattering on a variety of body shapes and sizes so all in all, this pattern is a winner for me. I’m also going to share three top patterns of different styles that work well with this trouser style. Have I peaked your interest? Let’s go! These magical trousers are the Padget Pants from Petite Stitchery & Co (PSCo). This pattern is size inclusive and goes up to a 5X or 62 inch hip. It also includes a great projector file with mirrored full pattern pieces (yay for good projector files!). Here are a few action shots of these awesome pants: The instructions specify a knit fabric, but many of the testers on the team made them in stretch or even non-stretch w...
2 comments
Continue Reading »